An End and a Beginning

Our business closed today, beginning a four-year hiatus (a lapse in continuity.)  Why only four years?  I am clearly optimistic about business-friendly changes coming in 2017.  The break will simplify capital preservation and provide time for patient preparation.  Better times lie years ahead; I feel positive.

This year was especially profitable, and rewarding in so many ways -- doing what we love, and getting paid for our service.  Everybody’s happy, we hope (about most things.)

The next part will be boring to some, and too familiar to others, so skip to the end (beginning.)  Our state charges a low annual fee for registration renewal.  Our fair city exacts a high annual fee for being honest and above board in doing business here, while it prohibits employees, signage/displays, and selling at our home office; we agreed and paid three times.  Our vibrant, growing county requires an annual report listing all business equipment, and payment of a tax if a low-$ threshold is crossed; this helped our short-term cash flow as it discouraged economy-boosting capital expenditure.  A fine website service put our business out there, never skipping a beat, but increased the low monthly fee by 45%; (what happened to low inflation?)  Kudos to Kinko’s (now FedEx Office) for inexpensive business cards which may return to action some day; (our company name is so unique and odd, it will be available in four, eight, or twelve years.) 

The list goes on, but not for Fast Food.  Treats (and Kay) are calling me, while sparkling cider waits for the Square ball to drop.

As we end the wonderful old year of 2012, let us begin a simpler, new year, with a focus on family.  Make it happy!

Christmas Choirs

This one’s for music lovers.  As Christmas music has blessed my life this season, an early-morning pause before choir practice brought to mind some great choirs I’ve enjoyed in the past, and a heavenly choir I’ve read about, which blessed the scene of our Savior’s birth.  On the first day of this special week, I decided to share a few, including some results of a survey I took among several friends at church. 

My question: What are two favorite choirs you sang in or listened to at Christmas time?

I first tested this on my wife Kay, the Primary song leader, as I interrupted her preparation of children’s songs.  Without hesitation, she agreed with my suggestion: East High School A Cappella Choir, which reminded me of Christmas performances I loved with my EHS choir directed by the legendary Lorraine Bowman.  With further thought, Kay would have mentioned the local high school choir our daughters sang in; recently we enjoyed their concert (with orchestra) which ended with a thrilling rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah (1742) by Handel (1685-1759).  The annual concert always brings joy to us ... and to the performers, I am certain.

One young brother at choir practice named the Weber State University LDS Institute Choir he was in years ago, which reminded me of my U of U Institute choir.  (We toured the Northwest while I was dating my future wife, Kay.)  Having recently returned from military duty in the Middle East, he recalled his men’s choir at church in Afghanistan, which also performed at a Christmas party.  A very young brother who leads the choir in our ward (congregation), named the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as his favorite (also one of mine, since Mother was a member of it when I was little.)  He also wrote for me (as the bishop was starting the meeting): “singing in ward choirs.”  Sweet!

The jacket of an LP (with a 50-cent DI price tag) found in our basement “archive” lists the members of the Brigham Young University A Cappella Choir 1980, including Brenda Boyer, Cherie Crosby (any relation to Kay’s Crosbys?) and Loralyn Tenney (must be related to my great grandmother Eliza.)  And in the men’s section: Dale Bowman (related to Lorraine?) and Clark Searle (reminds me of my sister’s jazz piano teacher.)  Among other sacred songs, they recorded “Come, O Thou King of Kings” (appropriate at Christmas time) with trumpets and organ.  I’d like to listen to the album this week for the first time!

One album I am sure must exist (not searched yet) is one to go along with Kay’s CD, "Angel Voices -- Libera in Concert" recorded May 30 & 31, 2007 in a Netherlands cathedral; (pronounced with accent like liberate.)  I haven't heard their Christmas music, but it’s on my wish list.  The boys’ choir provides a heavenly listening experience that would lift anyone’s spirit this season.

There’s more I could add here, but this will do for a fast one.  Suffice it to say, “I’m crazy about choirs!”  So … Merry Christmas, and have a happy choir experience!

The Kneeling Knight

In the front common area of a public high school out here in the West, there is a noble statue of a knight, with sword and shield, kneeling in prayer (in my view.)  For many years it has commonly (pardon the pun) been called "the kneeling knight."  Some people at the school think he doesn't look strong that way; I say there is strength in prayer to the Almighty! 

Such an inspiring reminder to those who know the power of prayer should not offend free thinkers who respectfully favor uplifting freedom of thought.  Others, unaware, can view it as a tired knight resting after a victorious battle, or pondering his next attack.  And to the dedicated agnostics, the statue has nothing to do with prayer or religion.  To the not-so-dedicated ones, well, ... I pity them for sitting too long on the fence (painful!)

I recall the painting of General George Washington, one of the strongest leaders of our country, kneeling in prayer.  “The Prayer at Valley Forge by Arnold Friberg is one of the best known paintings of the American Revolution. It depicts George Washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in prayer on his knees beside his horse Nelson at the Continental Army's encampment, during the terrible winter of 1777-1778.”

-- revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/prayer-at-valley-forge.html

The result is history which must never be altered to satisfy doubters.  The depiction inspires me -- and millions of others worldwide.  With the horrible shootings in recent years, the world is painfully aware that our schools are no longer a safe refuge as previously assumed.  Let us welcome a reminder to pray for protection, guidance and strength in difficult times.  From personal experience throughout my life, I know without any doubt that it works!

 

A Week of Thanksgiving

The past seven days have been abundant – full of blessings -- in more ways than I can describe.  So I name just a few.  My sweetheart Kay and I thoroughly enjoyed :

1) a piano recital feast in the Kaysville Tabernacle, by a world-famous concert pianist

2) Thanksgiving dinner with most (27) of the family in our cozy frontier home; (the antithesis of fast food, although Kay rushed me through third helpings, to join the family program); note: Kay is absolutely the best cook, and did most of the work – she is so amazing!!

3) freedom from Black-Friday (and Thursday-night) madness, as retailer discounts didn’t  budge us one bit, or two bits (= 25 cents)

4) sleeping late Saturday morning, fortunately missing the 6 a.m. second tsunami of sales

5) the annual Kaysville Nativity Celebration at the Kaysville Tabernacle and cultural hall, full of artistic international displays of nativity scenes and music

6) a senior-siblings get-together at Kay’s sister Susan’s gorgeous home in the land of Bountiful, with an abundance of pies, nuts, and story-telling by older folks like us

7) a 360-degree, surround sunrise this morning, starting another week of counting blessings; (actually, Kay enjoyed sleeping while I took photos for her to see later)

8) making cherished memories we hope to keep alive for years to come.

I thank Heavenly Father for His goodness and mercy, and for a loving, forever family.

The Morning After

Surprisingly, I woke up early, smiling with relief that Election Day is over, life goes on, and the sun will come up for another gorgeous day here on our frontier.  I feel refreshed by assurance that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings real hope and change, and we can find true happiness by applying it on a local level, namely the family. 

I am reminded that I can control personal spending, do my best to balance my budget, reduce debt, and be self-reliant.  I am grateful that our grandson survived four hours of surgery yesterday in a great world-class hospital, and we, the people, survived four years of political campaigns in the greatest nation on earth.

The morning after, do we remember how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America?  Let’s forget how political rhetoric temporarily divided our country at a time when we desperately need to solve problems together.  (In my advancing age, I find it gets easier to forget some things.  Being a senior citizen has its advantages.) 

During this month of Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for?  Now that I think of it, focusing on a specific plan, the morning-after is a good time to restart my gratitude journal -- and enjoy some healthy fast food.

Words: Fiscal & Monetary

Yesterday I took a picture of a sign on a coin machine at Walmart, which advertised: "Turn Your Change into Cash".  I didn't expect to use the photo, but realized today it's proof that I'm a penny pincher living in the past, because I still count coins as cash, even when facing over $16 trillion in debt.  Now, after a fast-food lunch break (grape juice, piece of bread, and a mini Hershey’s bar stolen from the trick-or-treat bucket), it motivates me to post my idea from July 19: [In the USA and other countries, is it a] “Monetary or Fiscal Problem?”

Over twenty years ago I became a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement in elementary, junior high, and high school for four years.  The basic concepts we learned are basically the same today, including fiscal and monetary policy, which we hear/see often in the news media.

“Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.  [As opposed to bad-mouthing success,] Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.  JA’s unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students.”   -- www.ja.org/about/

[One of many JA classroom-based programs I taught:]

“JA Economics® examines the fundamental concepts of micro-, macro-, and international economics. 

Concepts: Advantage, Demand, Economics system, Exchange rates, Fiscal policy, Government, Gross domestic product, Income distribution, Inflation, Investment, Labor, Markets, Opportunity cost, Productivity, Scarcity, Supply, Trade.

Skills: Applying information, Classifying, Critical thinking, Decision making, Giving reports, Graphing, Interpreting data, Math computation, Reading, Research, Taking notes, Writing.”   -- www.ja.org/docload/programs/scopeandsequence/2012...

(I didn’t find "monetary policy" on the JA site, but I’m sure it was and is taught.)  Thanks to Wikipedia, we can take fast gulps of the two words:

“In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government revenue collection (taxation) and expenditure (spending) to influence the economy.  The two main instruments of fiscal policy are government taxation and expenditure.  ... “  -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_policy

“Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability.  The official goals usually include relatively stable prices and low unemployment.  ...”   -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monetary_policy

(Not too fast to better understand what’s going on, I hope.  By the way, this one about two words reminds me of my first post two years ago (Oct. 20), titled “Words”.)

 

Missing My Favorite Andy

Dateline Provo [Utah] -- "Singer Andy Williams [84], whose golden tones made their mark in the 1960s and '70s, died Tuesday [9/25/2012] of cancer ... at his Branson Mo. home after a yearlong battle ..."  Outlasting many of his “fellow crooners”, he was still performing into his 80s.  [Kay and I were privileged to see his show in Branson not many years ago, and loved his singing, as always.]  Williams was a lifelong friend of the Osmonds, who made their TV debut in 1962,  [young boys] on “The Andy Williams Show.  ...”   – Deseret News 9/27/2012

Flipping through our vast collection, it was easy to find a Columbia stereo LP of Andy Williams: “The Academy Award Winning ‘Call Me Irresponsible’ and Other Hit Songs from the Movies”, including “Charade” and “More”.  The back of the jacket (still in original shrink wrap with a 50-cent D.I. sticker on it) is interesting: “Andy Williams’ voice reaches out through an easy smile with the warmth of a handshake – husky, easy, intimate.  He has an unmistakable way with a song and a way of lighting up the world around him in the glow of it.  Old favorites appear fresh and gleaming as newly minted pennies; current hits take on the warmth of old favorites. …”  -- Columbia (no date)

To this day I still soar with the memory of my favorite Andy Williams song, one of several that include the words “In her eyes, I see …”  But I have a problem, because I don’t remember the title, and Google has failed to find the song.  Help!  This drives me crazy!  Am I a hopeless romantic, or what?!  No matter what crowd I’m in, I’d never hesitate to unabashedly profess a love for Andy’s songs.  Three words really say it: “They move me!”

For five decades, it's been an unforgettable ride for me.  Thank you, Andy Williams, for developing and sharing your great talent.  May the family feel comfort and the love of Andy’s admiring fans and associates in the music industry, and be assured that he will continue making heavenly music up there.

I Will Never Forget!

The morning after, do we remember how the attacks increased patriotism and brought our country together?  Eleven years ago, yesterday.  I will never forget it!  Nor will I ever forget the unselfish sacrifice of so many on 9/11 and in the days and years that followed.

So Long, Summer Siestas

People ask me, “How was your summer?”  I reply, “It’s been a long, hot three months.” 

I’m ready to move on to a normal work schedule.  One thing I will miss, however, is the summer siesta.  Others have written about the health benefits of the afternoon nap, so you can Google it.  Speaking from personal experience, I’m convinced it saved my life! 

(This post wants to be fast, but not so fast!  -- a work in progress.)

In Honor of Pioneers on Our 24th

Here in Utah and other places where people celebrate the “Days of ‘47” (1847 – those were the days!) we remember the pioneers, some of whom are my Cannon and Rich ancestors.  I think it’s not just about the vanguard group of Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley around July 24th (God bless them for their courage), but also the numerous pioneers of all faiths who followed in the fall of 1847, and in later years.

Pioneer stories are intrinsic (“belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing”  -- The Merriam-Webster Dictionary) to the history of Utah, as well as other areas all over the world.  Today I celebrate the pioneering spirit of people everywhere, in every era.

Some interesting stories are found in George Q. Cannon – A Biography (©1999, Deseret Book Company) by Davis Bitton.  “… Brigham Young and the pioneers arrived at the Salt Lake Valley in late July 1847, planted potatoes, and began laying out a city.  Back in Winter Quarters [Missouri River, Nebraska], where George Q. Cannon remained, a different kind of company was being organized.  Apostles John Taylor and Parley P. Pratt organized a wagon train made up of men, women, and children, the old as well as the young, along with cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens.  Not a lean, fast-moving unit like the pioneer company, it was a larger, unwieldy ‘community,’ a veritable moving city of 560 wagons, fifteen hundred  people, and five thousand head of stock …”   George [age 20] and his sister Ann were in Captain Joseph Horne’s fifty (“referring to the approximate number of wagons”).  “George drove a wagon.  In the same company was Mary Jane Dilworth, who noticed something unusual in young Cannon: ‘I never saw him waste a minute.  As soon as his oxen were unyoked and the necessary work done, he could always be found sitting on the tongue of his wagon reading a book.’  When he offered to teach his sister Ann from her schoolbooks, she claimed she was too busy – and later regretted the lost opportunity.  …  Because he had a gun, George must have participated in the hunting, especially for buffalo, that kept the company supplied with meat and tallow.”  (GQC, pages 52-53)

“George was one of those exhausted travelers” in the Horne section, who arrived in the valley "on 29 September 1847.  …  One of George’s first assignments … was to dig a grave for a member of his company who had died.  ‘The soil was absolutely without moisture and resembling brick dust,’ he later said.  …  We constructed a ditch to what was known as the old fort,’ George continued, ‘and though the distance was but short it took two days before the water reached there.’  …  Something close to two thousand Latter-day Saints in thirteen companies had arrived at the Salt Lake Valley before the end of 1847.”  (GQC, page 55)

For Kay on Our 41st

On this special day, the 9^th of July, I'm sampling clippings and cards, etc., that bring back memories; digging into the “tank” of files – Grandfather’s WWII-standard filing cabinet.  A book of Kay’s amazing accomplishments, attributes and talents must wait --  another time, another place.  

Kay wrote for her WSU class, I guess (how many years ago?) – titled “Unit Rationale”: “Have you ever struggled to find the right words to express your thoughts?  Even when you are aware that you will be speaking before an audience and have time to write and organize your speech, do you sometimes wonder what words will be most effective?  …”  -- Kay’s handwritten rough draft.

Ned’s pink message form: “7/1/99 11:14 to Kay: While you were out, Leone of Fairfield phoned re. position just opened – English at NHS, closing 7/9.”

Membership card: “1991-1992 Mrs. Cannon is a member of Upland Terrace Elementary PTA.  --Joyce W. Muhlestein, Utah PTA President”.

[April 1990?] Business card from Victor Faleev, our guest with the Olympus Soviet Exchange; “Branch of Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Troitsk, Moscow reg., USSR”.

[Feb 1995]  “Dear Kay, … You bore such a sweet testimony Sunday and I was touched by your special spirit.  Jack & I have loved our association with your family and hope that it will continue for many years to come.  Our faith and prayers are with you …  --Love, Nancy Hobbs”.

 “Ever Wish Chocolate Were A Health Food?  Well … Chocolate lovers, this is the medical study that you have been waiting for.  …”  -- The Salt Lake Tribune, 9/21/96.   “Chocolate: The Legal Addiction”  --SL Trib, 10/16/96.  “You are the star for which all evenings wait.”  -- Dove Dark [Chocolate] Promises foil.

 “Legendary dancer Isadora Duncan flouted every tradition.  A turn-of-the century voluptuary and revolutionary, she rocked the arts world with her unconventional spirit.  …”  -- Seven, August 1999.

Standard-Examiner / Xplore Outdoors10/22/2003 article by Kay Cannon: “Spiral Jetty scores big over game of Scrabble” -- photo of Kay and daughters sitting in the center of the Spiral Jetty at Great Salt Lake.  “... The snow-white shoreline, pink lake, blue skies, brown and black hills all combined to make for an unforgettable dreamscape.  The complete silence and solitude were stunning.  ...”

Card (sailing ship) 2005: “Happy Father’s Day, Ned!  …  May we get away to some coastal region this year to celebrate many things.  Thanks for being a caring father to our children.  [Love heart] Kay”.

“Christmas at Cove Fort”  -- copy of “painting by Ken Baxter, SLC, Utah” from 1997 LDS-temple calendar.

 “NEW YEAR AWAKENING

My sleep-swollen eyes slowly open,

The dawn has seeped through the shades,

And filled the room with a soft morning glow.

…   --- Kay Cannon” 

-- Ensign Third Ward FOOTSTEPS, Vol. VIII, No. 1, January 7, 1979, Poetry Corner.

Happy Anniversary, Darling!

Smart Dog!

It’s high time for another monthly message from our legendary friend and former neighbor, Rowland Smart.  He wrote this one in August 1990, and asked me to type it on my computer.  (I’m sure the floppy disk is in our basement somewhere, but it’s easier to retype parts from the legal-size draft copy found in my “Smart Philosophy” file folder.  As usual, the only final print went to Brother Smart to copy for neighbors.)

"Rowly" titled it “Fanny, My Friend” and told some great stories about his sister Eva’s “old border collie”.  Fanny came into his life in 1937, after he returned home from “picking up potatoes and topping sugar beets” in Idaho.  “This little pup took to me right off, and we became real friends … she always wanted to be with me.  Fanny was black with white paws, white chest and a ring around her neck, and a white stripe down her face … born with the instinct to know just how and what to do in handling and driving the cattle.”

“In the year 1939, I was farming on shares for a man named Larson [82] … for half of what I raised.  Every day I would get on a horse named Browny and ride [~1 mile] down to his place to farm.  Every day Fanny went with me.  …  She went through fields hunting [pheasants] as I rode down the road on the horse.  …  Whenever I went anywhere in my truck, I always took her with me.  She sat next to me on the seat with her head out the side window … Just mention going somewhere in the car, and she knew it and was ready to go.”

“Sometimes I would walk or ride a horse up Mill Creek Canyon.  Then I’d go up Thaines [Thayne Canyon] or Porter Fork, over to the head of Neff’s Canyon to look at the cattle we had … between Mill Creek and Big Cottonwood Canyon.  We always took the three dogs with us.”

“When I went into the army in 1941, old Fanny my friend went with me to catch the bus to go to Fort Douglas.  Each time I came she was waiting there at the bus stop.  I was there for a couple of weeks before I was shipped to Fort Eustice [Eustis], Virginia.  When I came home four times on furloughs, she was waiting for me ... the day I was due to be home on leave she knew it for some reason …  Then when I got the whooping cough and nearly died when I was 34 years old, instead of me, it was she who died.  …  I still think about my old true friend Fanny.  I feel when I die and go to the other side, she will be there wagging her tail to greet me …  Good-bye Fanny, until we meet again in a better world where time never ends.”   – Rowland Smart

Kids’ Ideas for Summer

Last week Kay and I “sat” (what’s a better word?) some grandchildren, ages 2 to 15, while their parents vacationed in “The Big Apple”.  We had a fun family home evening (“… in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, refers to one evening per week, usually Monday, that families are encouraged to spend together in study, prayer and other wholesome activities. ...” -- wikipedia.org).  I asked them, “What would you recommend your cousins and friends do this summer that would make one a better, happier person?”  I was prepared with a list of two dozen ideas written on my little Super-Target-shopping scratch pad, but shared only three to stimulate the brainstorm session. 

Here’s what the children suggested for their peers:

Porter: “Go fishing, go swimming, help everyone, and go to Hawaii.”

Emma: “Go to Lagoon, read daily, and attend church weekly -- even when away on vacation.”

Bryon: “Treat others kindly, pray for people needing help, and invite a friend to attend Mutual” (mid-week youth church activity night).

Alem: “Learn right from wrong, be kind, get permission, pray for the sick, and read the Book of Mormon.”

Grace: (Lots of ideas, but maybe too young to express them.)

Here are two of my ideas I shared: Organize a neighborhood free yard sale, and pull weeds -- consider it a metaphor for life.

Smart Philosophy

Required reading (as background for this) is my April 2012 post titled: EMC Pioneer “Blogger”.  “Our friend and neighbor for 15 years, Rowland Smart, was a legend in his own time, and we loved him dearly.  …  'Rowly' was nearly 90 years old, a WWII (Europe) and Korean War veteran, good Christian …”

In honor of the valiant veterans and members of our military on this Memorial Day, I share excerpts from Brother Smart’s three-page monthly message dated October 29, 1991, found in my manila file folder labeled "Smart Philosophy".  This one was originally word processed by an unknown assistant to Smart; spelling and language are preserved as typewritten, except one four-letter word repeated:

“During the Fall and Winter of 1943-44 when I was assigned to the 247th Radar and Searchlight Battalion, our outfit was Camp Davis North Carolina.  This camp was an anti-aircraft training center for training officers for the U.S. Army.  …  I can say one thing, it was real tough and hard doing 90 days of training both mentally and physically.  …  I used to say to myself.  BOY!  Is it worth the h _ _ _ they took to be an officer?  …  I was the communications Sargent in our outfit.  I saw to it that the 600 miles of wire was layed right and worked, and that the command posts and headquarter’s post were wired and the switchboards were installed.  …  We had swamps, rivers, and highways to get around or cross over.  …  when you get into combat, there are so many telephone wire lines that it is like a spider web on both sides of every road …  It was fun to get away and be on our  own.  It is like being in combat, but not being shot at.  …  We had night missions … they lasted from dark until about one in the morning.  …  down to the camp called Scears Landing … where we shot at towed targets pulled by a plane.  …  We furnished the big 60 inch searchlights that had a range of 30,000 feet, about 6 miles.  We furnished the big 268 radars that had a range from horizon to horizon.  …  When we left Camp Davis, we went to Camp Stewart Georgia and then to Camp Gordon for advanced infantry training and from there to Germany to combat as foot soldiers.  …  It was different now I was just a regular old “doe boy” foot soldier, hoping to get home in one piece and not in a coffin or part of me left over there in that h _ _ _ hole of a country where it never seems to quit raining or snowing.     I want to thank God that I got home safe and sound and all in one piece!”      – Rowland Smart

EMC Pioneer “Blogger”

The monthly messages would have made an extraordinary blog.

Our friend and neighbor for 15 years, Rowland Smart, was a legend in his own time, and we loved him dearly.  “Rowly” (or “Rowley”) was the only living early-settler “pioneer” I’ve known.  A great area in which to raise our five children in the 1980’s, East Mill Creek (three words, according to early inhabitants Kay and I knew) still had pockets of rural pioneer life, look and feel.  The most obvious was the Smart property on 39th South (SLC), where the owner, Rowland Smart, lived in the old white frame house he was raised in.  Kay and I were privileged to enjoy Rowly’s friendship, and to feel welcome in his home.  Entering it was like time travel back to the late 1800’s.

Rowly was nearly 90 years old, a WWII (Europe) and Korean War veteran, good Christian, never married, had no children, but frequently shared his sage advice on marriage and parenting.  This down-to-earth farmer was also generous with his garden produce and other gifts delivered in his old repainted blue pickup truck.

A regular gift was Brother Smart’s monthly written message, often in his unique cursive writing (on backs of used paper) for me to type up (correcting numerous misspellings while preserving his special “voice”).  Many were already typed by other helpers, and photocopied for friends.  As I recall, most were personal experiences – true (we believed) stories from his amazing life.  I still have them in Grandfather’s file cabinet (my OCH) and on floppy disks (right) for possible publication.

I have a feeling Rowly would approve of my sharing excerpts from his monthly “blog”.

The 1940 Census

Having heard it's coming soon, I checked Ancestry.com for news about the 1940 Census.  (I'm excited about family history!)

"The 1940 Census is coming April 2, 2012. 
The 72-year wait is over.  On April 1, 1940, there were 132,164,569 people living in America. And today, 87 percent of Americans can find a direct family link to one – or more – of them.
When the 1940 U.S. Federal Census is opened to the public this April, you’ll have a window into every one of those 132 million lives. Their names, where they lived, who shared their house, even where they were five years earlier.  And that’s just for starters.
Where do you think your family was living on census day, April 1, 1940?"
--- www.ancestry.com/1940-census

Kindle: Please See Ads!

For two weeks now, my ad-friendly Amazon Kindle e-reader has been prompting me while turned off (Kindle, not I):  "Please connect wirelessly to download the latest Special Offers."

So I have at least two choices here: 1. Drive for miles with Kindle to the library or McDonald's in town for Wi-Fi, since I don't frequent Starbucks 
( I can make my own hot chocolate here --cheaper).  2. Go to my basement, disconnect my cable Internet, connect it to my wireless router, turn it on, and wait for the router to establish communication with the worldwide whatever.  Valuable, attractive offers then download to Kindle in about two seconds --amazing.  What would you do if you could not wait any longer for advertising?

I actually like the ads, and jokingly tell people I would've paid extra to get the Kindle version that offers advertising.  Luckily I got it for a lower price than our friends who paid more for the ad-free Kindle.  What about color?  No, it’s not the model that’s on fire in the marketplace, but I love my black-and-white e-ink display for reading, and see no reason for me to pay more for color.  In fact, Kay and I love classic B&W movies, and recently enjoyed "The Artist" as well; (who would've imagined a B&W silent film could win Academy Awards in the 21st century?)

Going back to hot chocolate: If I’m lucky, Kindle will offer half-price on Starbucks’ Double …  [2/27/12 review:] "Your Hot Chocolate (Double Chocolate) is like getting a big warm hug on a cold morning!"  [I'd love both!]  [1/20/12 review:] "Perfect for setting by the fire and watching it snow outside."  [He/she probably meant "sitting", as opposed to placing the drink by the fire.]  -- reviews.starbucksstore.com

Now my morning chocolate break is over, and I haven’t even drunk any.

our daughter's car buried in NE Pennsylvania

"They're Gonna Wanna Know"

Yesterday I heard a national financial news reporter repeat the phrase several times until it perked my interest.  The point was that investors will want to know more about online-review service Yelp Inc., which plans a $100-million IPO (initial public offering) (per WSJ online), before they risk their money buying shares of stock -- (like I'm "gonna wanna know" if any GOP candidate can defeat Pres. Obama in the election.)  I'm also "gonna wanna know" (pause for a breath ...) what are the American people and their elected representatives who are working hard at playing politics … thinking (or failing to think)?!!  

As I read today’s Standard-Examiner front-page headline "Aubree Jo's Law stalls", I couldn’t wait (and didn’t want to dwell on another non-fast-food topic) to combine it with the above, which is related in a minor (no pun intended) way.  As reported fairly by Loretta Park, the bill which passed the Utah House unanimously “on Feb. 14, states that courts cannot discriminate in a custody dispute based on gender, race, ethnicity or religion.”  A “concern came out of the blue” (I wouldn’t use that figure of speech in this case), so they are working on a nice compromise.  “California has a similar bill, … but has expanded the word gender …”  It appears the Utah Senate must either delete the word from the bill, or legally define the word to be more inclusive, and avoid a future problem.

My 1998 Merriam-Webster Dictionary has two definitions of gender:  1. any of two or more divisions within a grammatical class that determine agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms.  [The other appears to be, but really isn’t simpler:] 2. sex.

Maybe the M-W editorial committee saw the writing on the wall 15 years ago, and decided not to expand that second definition, recognizing our changing culture.  (I’m almost afraid to look at the 2012 edition to see how “progressive” it is.)  I’m thinking we will eventually have three sets of definitions to cover the English language: traditional, legal, and this-is-life-now (the-only-constant-is-change) set.  I wrote about language change 11/30/11, as I see it happening every day. 

Enough of that heavy fare -- let’s lighten up!

Primary Purpose

To share a little personal history: I remember Mother playing the organ for our weekday (3:30 Wed.?) Primary meeting in the historic Twentieth Ward chapel.  I was probably around six to eight years old, and felt proud that my mother had such talent and prominence in the church.   Besides the music, my only other memory of that Primary is sitting in an upstairs classroom, hearing stories of prophets and Jesus.

My favorite songs were "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" and "I think When I Read That Sweet Story" (about Jesus and the children); I still love them.  On that subject, Kay loves her calling as Primary song leader, but her favorite job was Primary president in East Mill Creek when our children were young.

“The Organization of the Primary” (from the August 2009 Friend magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

“Many years ago, Aurelia Spencer Rogers, a mother of 12 children, was worried about the neighborhood boys. [Sound familiar?] ... Sister Rogers decided to speak with Sister Eliza R. Snow, the Relief Society general president. Together, Sister Rogers and Sister Snow decided to create an organization called Primary. President John Taylor suggested that boys and girls attend. The first day of Primary was held on Sunday, August 25, 1878, in the Farmington Rock Chapel in Utah. There were 215 children there. Today, 131 years later, more than one million children from all over the world belong to Primary. The main purpose of Primary is to teach children the gospel of Jesus Christ. …”  -- lds.org/...history+of+primary

One of my favorite jobs in the church was nursery assistant when our youngest daughter was in it; (not just because we got treats --cheese and crackers, cookies, etc.)  There were unforgettable spiritual rewards from nurturing and teaching the littlest ones about our Savior.

“A Tasty Literary Dish"

Opening one of several copies of our Cannon history book this morning, I made two discoveries: (by pure luck of the draw?) it happens to be my personal copy given to me by my Cannon grandparents, with a full-page note written by them to me in 1968; and inside the cover was the pre-publication advertising flyer with Mother’s editing marks penciled on it (always trying to improve, even after publication).  The Cannon Family Historical Treasury, copyright 1967 by George Cannon Family Association, was a work of love by a number of dedicated writers and editors, including my mother.  It is truly a treasure, worth far more than the deluxe hardcover pre-edition cost of $3.75 per copy; (the price soared to $4.95 after publication.)

The folded, legal-size flyer has the usual section with comments by prominent people (“What they’re saying about the book”), including this one by Winnifred Cannon Jardine, Deseret News Food Editor (need I say why it caught my eye?):

“This 400-page, beautifully-illustrated book has all the ingredients for a tasty literary dish – romance, intrigue, conflict, and humor, plus high inspiration.  It should be a bestseller.”

It was!

My Innumerable Cousins

What’s up: Family history research (generally known as genealogy)

New program I started last Friday: AllMyCousins.com

Their slogan: “Making Genealogy Easy” (if you have a lot of patience)

Secret to subscribing, as revealed by Bob, the expert at ORFHC in Ogden: Start downloading (importing) relatives, click “More” until it finally pops the subscription offer @$20/year; then  pay with PayPal (if you know what’s “good for you”.)  I paid differently, the hard way, but got it done.

Getting serious about this, I logged in tonight and clicked “More” to go beyond the 852 people I got for free on Friday.  I soon saw the good news and the bad news: “Tree parameters successfully updated. It may take some time to complete.”  (A half hour later:) You’re telling me!  Thanks for the warning!  (It’s still downloading/processing; who would give up now?)  I have a vague memory that my friend Hayle (86) who introduced me to this, his favorite FH program, told me, “it takes a long time, so be prepared.”  Well, I’m prepared alright –with lots of books to read, including To The Rescue by Heidi Swinton, which I borrowed from the county library, and I’m enjoying now as I write and wait.  (After another 20 minutes:) I think I'm due for a nap; (can this thing run all night?)  You gotta love it!

Attention to Detail

As I plucked a tiny piece of paper wrap from melted butter on my leftover peas, I was impressed with the attention to detail and the sign that I’m not going blind in my old age (as much as I thought.)  However, losing sight of big over-arching matters (“… the forest for the trees”) can impede real progress, and result in being out of touch with reality.  There are many pros and cons.

On the bright side, I just noticed a plastic insert protruding from the front edge of my laptop, where I discovered an SD card reader I'd forgotten was there.  It must have popped out when the computer fell on the floor last night when I wasn’t paying attention in the dark; (I won’t go into embarrassing detail about how that happened, or how I've been using my clunky old SD card reader that plugs into USB.)

Is it a pathway to perfection?  Consider the possible pitfalls of being a perfectionist, including OCD and anti-social behavior.  Nevertheless, organization does matter, such as recording contact information in an efficient, easy-lookup way, e.g.  (Mobile handwriting on back of receipts, where contact info goes nowhere, just didn’t work for me, so I changed in 2012.)  Important meetings and tasks can be remembered by meticulously following a TO-DO list.  At the store, I like to double-check Kay’s shopping list before returning home to her loving arms; (she’s delighted when I get it right.)

I have this lingering doubt about Dockers pants instructions to “Wash garment inside out.”  What about drying?  Could “wash” refer to the entire laundry process?  Is drying outside-out (my preference) bad, as good, or better?  Can consumers sit back and simply overlook possible ambiguity or lack of vital information?  It’s a consequential question that designers, editors and manufacturers should take seriously.  (Gulp!  I bit off more than I can chew with that one -- not very fast.  Sorry.)

Finding Peace

On this holiday morning, I sincerely wish a “Happy New Year” to my few followers and everyone who will never see this.

Last month I thought a lot about peace, probably because December was so hectic, and I felt a special yearning.  Was I alone in that, with everyone else accepting the inevitability of holiday stress?

The peace I was seeking brings me happiness.  There are tons of books written about happiness; (demand must be great.)  In her 2009 book, The Happiness Project, author Gretchen Rubin describes her year-long search for it.  Her further-reading suggestions include:

The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell, 1930.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by (guess who?), Yale U. Press, 1964.

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz, 2004.

I have my own list, including some favorites in my blog profile since the beginning.  Yes, I found peace --in hearing Christmas music, studying scriptures, and visiting loved ones.  I’d love to share it in the days to come.